Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019 is “Living Coral,” a bright, exceedingly perky pinkish shade, but it’s a contrasting story for homeowners this year, according to the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA).

With more color options and styles available than any other roofing type, metal roofing color trends set the tone for the latest in residential exterior style preferences. Coming off of a seriously challenging 2018, during which U.S. and Canadian homeowners were confronted with climate extremes, severe hurricanes and storms and devastating wildfires, the MRA says the mood is more somber, reflective and nostalgic for 2019.

Instead of bold, bright hues, MRA’s predictions include weathered and “reclaimed” looks, with darker, richer colors such as Aged Bronze and Weathered Zinc to be among the most popular shades for 2019. Some metal roofing manufacturers have gone so far as to introduce designs that mimic a “rusted” appearance, such as the new Infiniti Roadhouse steel roofing style from MRA-member EDCO, which harkens back to vintage barns and farmhouses and belies the material’s underlying high-tech performance features. Natural metal materials that weather and change over time, such as copper that ages naturally into a soft green patina, are also highly-prized.

“Homeowners have gone through significant challenges and changes this past year,” said Renee Ramey. “There’s a longing and desire for things that have a connection to the past and will stand the test of time, and that’s driving the popularity for some of the vintage looks we’re seeing for 2019.”

Whatever the color trends, the lesson of 2018 has driven home that above all, performance matters most. Quality metal roofs are among the most energy efficient, durable, longest-lasting and have Class A fire ratings and the ability to survive F-2 tornado force winds. Ramey emphasizes that quality over color should always be the top consideration when choosing a metal roof that is designed to last 50-plus years and will protect homes against severe weather and climate extremes. Before falling in love with a color choice, MRA offers these tips for how to choose a quality metal roof designed to stand the test of time:

Experience matters: Choose a metal roof from a reputable manufacturer and installer. Do your homework and make sure they are experienced and will stand behind the product and installation.

Pay attention to ratings: Metal gauge and thickness matters. Make sure the material is properly rated and meets or exceeds regional codes for your area.

Be picky about warranties: Get them in writing for both the product and installation and analyze them to determine what they cover, for how long and whether they are transferrable.

Brush up on your metal: Verify what kind of metal is being used, what protective coatings it has and what standards it has been tested against.

Know that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is: Protect yourself against cheap, inferior material by checking on business standings and getting referrals. Short-term savings are never worth the significant long-term costs and damage that can result from poor quality material or installation practices.

Hurricanes, wildfires, massive hail storms, snow, ice, wind and more: for plenty of U.S. and Canadian homeowners, 2018 brought it all.

Now, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) is seeking stories from homeowners with metal roofs who survived Mother Nature’s wrath for a chance to earn the title of MRA’s Top Survivor Home of the Year and a $1,500 grand prize. To enter, homeowners simply need to submit their story in 200 words or less about the challenge their home withstood during 2018, along with a photo via the official entry page at www.metalroofing.com. For each qualified entry received, MRA also will donate $50 to the American Red Cross to help with disaster relief efforts, up to a total of $5,000. The search for MRA’s Top Survivor Home of the Year ends on January 15, 2019.

“With climate extremes becoming increasingly common, taking steps to make homes more defensible and resilient is essential no matter where homeowners live,” said Renee Ramey, MRA executive director. “We hear from homeowner all the time who credit their metal roofs for helping protect their home against extreme wind, rain, hail and even wildfires and major snow storms, so we decided to proactively invite people to share their stories. Hopefully, it will inspire others and showcase how homes can survive against some pretty incredible odds.”

Building and renovating homes so that they are better able to withstand climate extremes is a hot topic in the industry, given the massive challenges homeowners have faced in recent years. That includes using more durable, long lasting and stronger materials like metal roofs, in addition to construction methods that not only meet, but exceed codes for being able to better stand up against monster storms and help prevent damage from climate related events, such as wildfires.

Enter the “Best Metal Roofing Project” competition hosted by the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA). Beginning Oct. 4, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2018, the MRA will award one monthly first prize winner for the project judged to be the most outstanding example of a great metal roofing project.

Open to U.S. and Canada contractors, installers and manufacturers, entries will be evaluated based on appearance, performance and originality/use of materials and each monthly first-prize winner will receive a $500 cash prize. To enter, interested participants can upload a photo of their metal roofing project and a 200-word or less description at www.metalroofing.com.

“This competition celebrates all of the fantastic work going on in the metal roofing industry right now,” said Renee Ramey, MRA executive director. “Not only do metal roofs perform exceptionally well, but installers getting very creative when it comes to material use and incorporating styles that add incredible curb appeal.”

With more color options available than any other roofing type and designs that range from traditional to contemporary, metal roofing can help highlight any architectural style and yet it is also among the most durable, long-lasting and sustainable option available. Demand for metal roofing is increasing, making it the second most popular choice for U.S. homeowners and helping increase profitability for installers and contractors.

For more information about how to enter MRA’s “Best Metal Roofing” competition for the trades, visit www.metalroofing.com

When it comes to sustainable building practices, solar is hot. With the availability and interest in residential solar systems growing rapidly nationwide, it’s important for builders, contractors and installers to know the fundamentals and brush up on best practices to help homeowners make informed decisions.

The webinar will be held on November 7 at 2 p.m. EST. Free registration sign up is available here. The webinar will feature noted author, presenter and expert Todd Miller, president of Isaiah Industries, who has spent his long professional career in the metal roofing industry, including providing expertise, ideas and guidance to hundreds of homeowners planning for solar installations.

“Driven by California residential solar mandates coming in 2020, residential solar systems are becoming more mainstream nationwide,” said Renee Ramey, executive director of Metal Roofing Alliance. “To capitalize on the opportunity as well as to help guide homeowners during the planning process, it’s important for the trade to understand the essentials for residential rooftop solar installation.”

Contractors and roofing installers also can find the primer for solar rooftop installation on MRA’s website at www.metalroofing.com, in addition to information about how to become a MRA member and gain access to other education and training related to a wide variety of metal roof topics.

Reinke Shakes, based in Hebron, Nebraska, has joined the Metal Roofing Alliance as a manufacturer member. With a long history producing both aluminum and copper roofing shingles that have been installed throughout the United States and internationally, the company’s products have been used for both residential and commercial roofing projects.

ASC Profiles LLC, a manufacturer of steel roof and wall products, has joined the MRA as a manufacturer member. Headquartered in West Sacramento, California, the company operates manufacturing plants throughout the West, including California, Washington, Oregon, Utah and Alaska. It supplies metal roofing solutions for residential, agricultural and light commercial projects.

Since 1998, MRA has served as a leading voice in driving market adoption of metal roofing and raising awareness for its exceptional durability, environmental benefits and all-season protection in any climate. As a nonprofit organization, MRA members benefit from increased marketing support, online lead generation and increased awareness through consumer and contractor information and educational initiatives. MRA offers membership opportunities for manufacturers, material suppliers, accessory, ancillary and association companies.

“It’s a great time to be in the metal roofing business,” said Renee Ramey, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance. “More homeowners are realizing its many benefits and it is through the collective efforts of our members that we’ll continue to grow and increase opportunities to capture market share in both the United States and Canada.”

The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) has unveiled a new digital marketing toolkit for its contractor and installer members to help them promote and grow their residential metal roofing business.

With the popularity of metal roofs increasing among U.S. and Canadian homeowners, the MRA is putting more resources in the hands of contractors and installers to support the growing demand. The new toolkit, available to members at https://www.metalroofing.com/professionals/contractors/ includes table tents, yard signs, literature, infographics, videos and ads. Many of the toolkit assets are customizable and are available in digital formats or as downloads.

“Contractors and installers are top priority when it comes to market adoption and helping homeowners understand the exceptional durability, value and sustainability benefits of metal roofs,” said Renee Ramey, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance. “Making sure our trade members have the right tools to communicate and market their metal roofing business is essential to us.”

The Metal Roofing Alliance also offers training, business development resources and a sophisticated lead-gen platform to help support manufacturers, installers and contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada. Earlier this year, the Alliance unveiled its new website designed to not only educate and inspire homeowners, but to highlight the work of its members and help homeowners connect with qualified metal roofing suppliers and contractors in their area.

For those involved with or who support the metal roofing industry in the U.S. or Canada, MRA offers a variety of partnership and membership opportunities. For more information, visit https://www.metalroofing.com/become-member/

As a resource to the trades, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) now offers an online introductory course for solar rooftop installation that helps define key solar terms, outlines installation considerations, describes compatible roofing material types including various options, and offers design planning basics and other resources.

According to the MRA, understanding residential solar system installation is more important than ever because the solar market is hot, thanks to growing nationwide interest stemming from California’s recent solar mandate for all new homes beginning in 2020.

What does solar have to do with roofs? Everything, according to the MRA, because a return on a residential roof-mounted solar investment is only as good as the quality and longevity of the roof where it is installed.

The metal roofing industry is growing rapidly, and so is the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) — MRA announced that it recently added two new members, including:

PermaLock Aluminum Shingles Company, MRA Manufacturer Member

Headquartered in Utah, PermaLock has offered exceptional aluminum roofing products since 1948 for residential and commercial customers. Designed to last a lifetime, PermaLock aluminum shingles are lightweight yet extremely strong, making them a highly-durable and sustainable choice. For more information about PermaLock Aluminum Shingles, visit www.permalockroofing.com.

Foundation Finance Company, MRA Ancillary Member

Foundational Finance Company offers dealers and home improvement contractors a solid finance program foundation on which to build their sales. Headquartered in Schofield, Wisconsin, Foundation Finance Company can be found online at foundationfinance.com.

“Our members help strengthen the metal roofing industry by offering great resources, expertise and knowledge to homeowners,” said Renee Ramey, executive director of MRA. “It’s exciting to see market adoption for metal roofing continuing to grow in the United States and Canada thanks to their support.”

Since 1998, MRA has served as a leading voice in driving market adoption of metal roofing and raising awareness for its exceptional durability, environmental benefits and all-season protection in any climate. MRA members benefit from increased marketing support, online lead generation and increased awareness through consumer and contractor information and educational initiatives.

With a hot U.S. housing market and still-favorable interest rates, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) is predicting a heavier than usual demand for qualified metal roofing installers and contractors for spring 2018.

For homeowners planning improvement projects this season, that means the time to swing into action is now, says MRA’s Executive Director Renee Ramey. That’s especially true for metal roofing, which is booming in popularity thanks to its durability and exceptional performance in severe weather.

“Not only are we seeing greater demand in general, we’re also coming off a tough winter which leads to the need for more qualified re-roofing contractors,” said Ramey. “In many cases, homeowners should be aware that these factors can significantly increase the competition and the timeframe for being able to complete re-roofing projects.”

Even with the flurry of activity predicted for this spring, MRA is cautioning homeowners to take their time and do their homework to vet contractors thoroughly before embarking on any re-roofing job. Inexperienced installers may prey on homeowners’ impatience and the high market demand, using it as a means to overcharge or push sub-quality services and materials. Inadvertently or not, rushed contractors under pressure or anxious to get to their next job may cut corners or overlook key details, so it’s up to homeowners to make sure the job is done to their satisfaction each step of the way.

“No matter what the material, a new roof is a major investment, so homeowners will want to take the necessary steps now to ensure their home is protected, comfortable and will perform reliably for many years to come,” said Ramey.

Some contractors push homeowners towards a certain roofing material, not because it’s the best or most appropriate for their home, but because it may simply be the option the installer is most familiar with. Make sure your installer is properly trained, experienced and skilled in installing metal roofing. Ideally, look for a roofer that has been in business for at least five years; roofers who don’t do quality work usually don’t last that long.

Get referrals

Reputable installers are typically involved in the industry and are committed to keeping abreast of the latest trends and techniques. Check to see if the prospective installer is a member of MRA and other reputable trade alliances. Be sure to ask for and contact recent references. When contacting references, ask if they were satisfied with the work, if the process went smoothly, if the installers were careful and courteous and they did what they promised, including sticking to the estimate and change orders. Also, ask the installer to provide you with a few recent job locations so you can drive by and check out the work. While pictures may be helpful, there’s nothing like seeing how a roof looks first-hand.

Do your own homework

With metal roofing alone, there are hundreds of different options, material types, finishes and installation techniques. Request the highest-rated, longest lasting material you can afford and always do your own research for whatever product recommendation your installer suggests, verifying it’s what you want for your home. For resources about metal roofing materials, styles and options, check out www.metalroofing.com or visit the manufacturer’s website directly.

Protect yourself

Make sure that installers are licensed, insured and carry workers’ compensation coverage. Don’t be afraid to ask for proof-of-insurance certificates and the insurance agent’s name. A reputable installer won’t hesitate to provide you with that information. Don’t pay the full amount of a job upfront; ideally, pay one-third upfront for materials, and the remainder when roofing and clean up are completed to your satisfaction. It goes without saying that evaluating warranties is essential: make sure it covers not only materials and finishes, but leaks, flashing failures and other labor-related defects.

Be thorough

Putting on a new roof is only part of the equation. Replacing eaves flashing, pipe boots and roof jacks is less complicated when reroofing, so consider having it done at the same time if needed. Be sure to have your contractor or HVAC provider verify proper attic ventilation. Poor ventilation can cause significant damage, high utility bills and worse case, can lead to serious safety issues.

“Metal roofs are one of the best and most reliable ways to protect a home for the long run,” said Ramey. “We’re encouraging homeowners to invest some time and effort upfront before their re-roofing project begins, and it will pay off with many years of loving their home’s roof.”

Contractors now have a powerful new tool to capitalize on the skyrocketing growth of the metal roofing installation business.

The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) has launched a revamped website that offers member contractors real-time quality lead retrieval, sophisticated marketing benefits and greater membership opportunities all in a mobile-friendly, streamlined and easy-to-use platform.

The metal roofing industry has captured 14 percent of the overall U.S. re-roofing market, and adoption is continuing to grow rapidly. To help contractors and installers take advantage of the opportunity to increase business, MRA’s new site gives members the ability to showcase their company with detailed profile information, a customizable project portfolio and contact resources. A new, simplified reporting system allows members to find, filter and access leads from anywhere, while a built-in system tracks project status, details and notes about prospective customers. The new site is at www.metalroofing.com.

With the demand for skilled metal roof installers on the rise, the MRA also is emphasizing online education and training resources for the trade. The MRA website’s popular Ask the Experts forum offers personalized guidance and information to help address some of the most technical questions from highly experienced experts. A growing number of training videos and resources, including answers to frequently-asked customer questions, also are available to members via a simple, mobile-friendly platform. Installers and contractors interested in becoming an MRA member can contact MRA’s Member Liaison at dottie@metalroofing.com to find out more information.

“Our top priority is to help contractors take better advantage of the tremendous opportunities that the metal roofing industry has to offer,” said Renee Ramey, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance. “This new site is built with the busy installer in mind, providing business-building tools and making it easy for them to find the resources and information they need.”

Powerful resource for homeowners

For consumers considering metal roofing, the new image-rich site features an interactive metal roofing visualizer that allows homeowners to “try on” different styles and colors of metal roofs to see how they might look on their own homes. A robust image gallery now provides convenient search filters for different metal roof styles, colors and designs. The search to find a local contractor has also been streamlined, giving consumers quick access to reputable metal roofing installers and the ability to review their experience and work. A handy roofing material comparison tool provides homeowners with detailed information for how an investment in a metal roof stands up to other options on the market.

“The new site is really built to benefit both sides of the equation—installers and homeowners,” said Ramey. “Homeowners are definitely interested in learning more about metal roofing, and the site is designed to make it easy for them to not only get their questions answered, but get in touch with a qualified installer to take the next step.”

Sponsored Messages

@roofingmag on Twitter

January/February 2019

Read our latest issue in digital format.

About Roofing

Roofing is a national publication that unravels, investigates and analyzes how to properly design, install and maintain a roof system. Through the voices of professionals in the field, Roofing’s editorial provides a unique perspective.